Fall is a favorite time of the year for my family. We love the changing colors, falling leaves, pumpkin patches, hayrides and FOOTBALL!

My husband played football when he was a little boy and went on to play in college; I’m just a sports junkie and football is one of my all-time favorites. It seems we’ve passed that love of football on to our kids, as they seem to get just as excited about cheering for our favorite teams as we do. One of our favorite family activities is tailgating and football parties in general, whether it is attending home games for our favorite college team or our annual Super Bowl festivities. Here are a few ideas for your own parties this fall.

Mini Italian Beef Sandwiches with Pepperoncini Slaw

These little beef sandwiches make a great appetizer for a party. And you can put them together in just 20 minutes.

Light and Layered Taco Dip

Ground turkey, reduced-sodium and light ingredients and a confetti of crisp, colorful veggies make this potluck staple more nutritious than a typical layered dip –  but every bit as tasty.

Pizza Burgers

Bring along extra toppers inspired by pizza-parlor classics: thinly sliced sweet peppers and onion, spinach, sautéed mushrooms, jarred banana peppers or sliced olives.

Caramel Snack Mix

Don’t be surprised if this nutty, caramel-y, chocolaty snack mix disappears quickly! Good thing it only takes six ingredients to whip up.

Roasted Red Pepper-Chipotle Hummus

Hummus is easier than you might think: Just throw the ingredients in the food processor. Find canned smoky chipotle peppers in the Mexican aisle of large supermarkets.